advice on selling my Bongo :(
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2025 5:29 am
Hi from Vancouver Canada 
I've been the proud owner of my bongo, Ami, for about 3½ years now. She was my home for the first 2 of those years and I didn't take her on as many adventures as I hoped to but she did get to see the Alaska Highway so I consider that an acheivement
Unfortunately she's got some issues that I can't afford to fix, and as I'm looking to move out of the RV I'm borrowing and into a basement suite next month with nowhere to store all 3 of my cars, it's time for her to go.
I know most people here are in the UK and the market is a bit different which makes this question more difficult, but I have no idea how much money I should try to get for this van with the condition she's in and was wondering if anyone could help give me an idea, or dissuade me from bothering to try since I've only ever seen about 6 other Bongos in Canada lol.
I'd really like her to go to someone who can fix her up or use her for parts rather than have her towed away for scrap (partly for sentimental reasons, partly because it's a rare car, and partly because I bought her for $13000 + about $3k in repairs)
Anyway, here's all the info on the condition it's in:
12 April 1996, turbodiesel, 4WD, manual transmission, AFT, in green/grey
175000km
Homebuilt camper conversion with bed, cupboards, varnished wood countertop, foot pump sink, mini fridge, simple 1200w inverter setup for power
Relatively new clutch slave cylinder, drive belts, and fuel pump seals
Doesn't start due to a diesel leak from one of the tubes near the engine
Transmission bearing knocks loudly in reverse+5th and quietly ticks all the time, hasn't caused any actual issues in driving (yet)
Driver's window doesn't work
Sliding door became stuck shut recently
Taillights are grounding out somewhere so they don't work
Alignment+tire wear is all screwed up, one tire is also flat
Front bumper got reversed into and is caved in on one corner
If anyone has any advice I'd be very grateful, if not that's fine too, I just thought I'd try asking about it here so I don't just send her off to the slaughterhouse without making sure it's the right move.
Thank you so much
I've been the proud owner of my bongo, Ami, for about 3½ years now. She was my home for the first 2 of those years and I didn't take her on as many adventures as I hoped to but she did get to see the Alaska Highway so I consider that an acheivement
Unfortunately she's got some issues that I can't afford to fix, and as I'm looking to move out of the RV I'm borrowing and into a basement suite next month with nowhere to store all 3 of my cars, it's time for her to go.
I know most people here are in the UK and the market is a bit different which makes this question more difficult, but I have no idea how much money I should try to get for this van with the condition she's in and was wondering if anyone could help give me an idea, or dissuade me from bothering to try since I've only ever seen about 6 other Bongos in Canada lol.
I'd really like her to go to someone who can fix her up or use her for parts rather than have her towed away for scrap (partly for sentimental reasons, partly because it's a rare car, and partly because I bought her for $13000 + about $3k in repairs)
Anyway, here's all the info on the condition it's in:
12 April 1996, turbodiesel, 4WD, manual transmission, AFT, in green/grey
175000km
Homebuilt camper conversion with bed, cupboards, varnished wood countertop, foot pump sink, mini fridge, simple 1200w inverter setup for power
Relatively new clutch slave cylinder, drive belts, and fuel pump seals
Doesn't start due to a diesel leak from one of the tubes near the engine
Transmission bearing knocks loudly in reverse+5th and quietly ticks all the time, hasn't caused any actual issues in driving (yet)
Driver's window doesn't work
Sliding door became stuck shut recently
Taillights are grounding out somewhere so they don't work
Alignment+tire wear is all screwed up, one tire is also flat
Front bumper got reversed into and is caved in on one corner
If anyone has any advice I'd be very grateful, if not that's fine too, I just thought I'd try asking about it here so I don't just send her off to the slaughterhouse without making sure it's the right move.
Thank you so much
Its sad when it ends. But we do have a few members from Canada. Maybe one will see your post and get in touch.